EP0414254B1 - Semi-trailer for a container - Google Patents

Abstract

A semi-trailer for receiving containers of differing lengths and number has a longitudinal frame (2) which can be extended from a first to a second longitudinal dimension and has a first longitudinal frame part (4) and a second longitudinal frame part (6) arranged behind it in the driving direction. The running wheels (32) are arranged on the second longitudinal frame part (6). The first longitudinal frame part (4) is displaceably guided, and can be locked, on the second longitudinal frame part (6). In addition, the longitudinal frame (2) has a third longitudinal frame part (8) which is arranged behind the second longitudinal frame part (6) in the driving direction and is also capable of being displaceably guided and locked on the second longitudinal frame part (6) in the driving direction. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a semi-trailer for containers with a longitudinal frame that can be extended from a first to a second length dimension for supporting containers of different lengths and numbers, with a front longitudinal frame part that can be coupled to a semitrailer, and a central longitudinal frame part arranged behind it in the direction of travel, on which the front longitudinal frame part can be displaced is guided and lockable and the wheels are arranged, and a rear longitudinal frame part arranged behind the central longitudinal frame part in the direction of travel, which is also guided and lockable on the central longitudinal frame part in the direction of travel, the longitudinal frame parts having holding elements for locking the end support of the containers.

Such a semi-trailer is known from EP-A-0 094 701, which is constructed from three longitudinal frame parts, the front and rear longitudinal frame parts being guided and lockable on the central longitudinal frame part in the direction of travel. The adjustment of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts to adapt the total length of the semi-trailer to the container or containers to be accommodated should be carried out expediently when the brakes are blocked. The displacement of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts can then be carried out with the aid of a tractor, which is aligned with the longitudinal frame part to be displaced, coupled to it, moved forwards or backwards for displacement of the longitudinal frame part and then has to be uncoupled from this longitudinal frame part. Since both the front and the rear longitudinal frame part have to be adjusted within the permissible limits in order to maintain the trailer load, the procedure described above must be carried out twice. The adjustment of the known semi-trailer is therefore disproportionately time-consuming and also very cumbersome, since the tractor must be coupled and uncoupled twice and maneuvered from the front and rear longitudinal frame part and vice versa. This disadvantage also exists if the semi-trailer provided for the semi-trailer is used as the tractor, since this too has to be uncoupled from the front longitudinal frame part in order to adjust the rear longitudinal frame part and must be moved accordingly.

The object of the invention is therefore to develop the known semitrailers such that a faster and easier adjustment of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts is possible.

This object is achieved in that in a semi-trailer of the type mentioned, the front and rear longitudinal frame parts are mechanically coupled to one another in such a way that they can only be displaced in the opposite direction to one another with respect to the central longitudinal frame part and the rear longitudinal frame part can be driven by the front longitudinal frame part.

The semi-trailer according to the invention allows a much faster and easier adjustment of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts, since the semi-trailer which is already coupled to the semi-trailer can be used as an aid without having to be uncoupled from the front longitudinal frame part. When the wheels on the central longitudinal frame part are braked and thus blocked, the front longitudinal frame part coupled to them is moved by slowly moving the tractor forward or backward relative to the central longitudinal frame part, whereby the rear longitudinal frame part is driven and automatically moved in the opposite direction. A separate displacement of the front and rear longitudinal frame part by maneuvering, coupling, moving and then uncoupling the articulated lorry - as required in the prior art - is not necessary. This saves a considerable amount of time. The adjustment time required for the semi-trailer according to the invention is only a fraction of the adjustment time required in the prior art. The loading of the container or containers on the semitrailer to be adjusted in its length can thus be carried out in a considerably shorter time. The downtime of the semi-trailer can be significantly reduced, which leads to a reduction in operating costs, as is well known in the freight forwarding business Delays due to longer downtimes cause high costs.

Another advantage of the invention is that, due to the opposing displacement of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts according to the invention, the maintenance of essentially constant trailer and axle loads is ensured in various extended positions.

It should also be noted that instead of two or more shorter containers, for example two 20-foot containers, a single long container - for example with a length of 40 or 45 feet or more - is arranged on the semi-trailer according to the invention in a fully pulled-apart state can be.

The first and the third longitudinal frame part are expediently each displaceable by the same distance from the second longitudinal frame part.

In a further development, the first and the third longitudinal frame parts can overlap one another on the second longitudinal frame part and have rows of teeth on their mutually facing sides, which mesh with a gearwheel lying between them and mounted on the second longitudinal frame part. This results in a particularly simple mechanical coupling between the first and the third longitudinal frame part.

Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the second longitudinal frame part has at least one hollow longitudinal spar and the first and third Longitudinal frame part have a rod-shaped section with which they are inserted into the front or the rear open end of the longitudinal spar of the second longitudinal frame part and can be pulled out telescopically therefrom. This design results in a particularly simple and at the same time space-saving mounting of the first and third longitudinal frame parts on the second longitudinal frame part. To achieve a rotationally fixed mounting of the three longitudinal frame parts relative to one another, the cavity of the second longitudinal frame part and the rod-shaped section of the first and third longitudinal frame parts are preferably rectangular in cross section.

Another embodiment of the invention, in which optionally the support of a single container when the longitudinal frame is set to the first length dimension, or of two containers in a row when the longitudinal frame is extended to the second length dimension, is characterized in that at the front end of the first longitudinal frame part a first holding element, at the second longitudinal frame part a second holding element in the front area and in the direction of travel behind this a third and a fourth holding element and at the rear end of the third longitudinal frame part a fifth holding element is provided, with the arrangement of a single container that second holding element holds the front end and the fifth holding element holds the rear end of the container and, when two containers are arranged one behind the other, the first holding element holds the front end and the third holding element holds the rear end of the front container and the fourth holding element t the front end and the fifth holding element fixes the rear end of the rear container. Such an arrangement of the holding element allows the fixing of containers of different lengths. In addition, in this embodiment the longitudinal frame does not necessarily have to be shortened to the length of an individual container, ie the first length dimension of the longitudinal frame when pushed together can be greater than the length dimension of an individual container. Although the displacement path becomes smaller, this also generally reduces the effort for the displacement mechanism.

A further development of this embodiment is characterized in that the distance between the second and fourth holding element is half as large as half the difference between the two length dimensions of the longitudinal frame and that the distance between the first and third holding element is the same as the distance between the fourth and the fifth holding element when the longitudinal frame is extended to the second length dimension. This further development is advantageous if the first and the third longitudinal frame part can each be displaced by the same distance from the second longitudinal frame part and containers of the same length are used.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the holding elements consist of cross members arranged on the longitudinal frame with fixing elements provided at both ends. This results in a particularly secure support of the containers at their ends.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf den Sattelauflieger;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des Sattelaufliegers;

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt durch den mittleren Abschnitt des mittleren Längsrahmenteils entlang der Linie III-III in Figur 2;

Fig. 4

schematisch den Längsrahmen im zusammengeschobenen Zustand mit einem darauf angeordneten einzelnen Container; und

Fig. 5

schematisch den Längsrahmen im auseinandergezogenen Zustand mit zwei darauf hintereinanderangeordneten Containern.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a plan view of the semi-trailer;

Fig. 2

a side view of the semi-trailer;

Fig. 3

a longitudinal section through the central portion of the central longitudinal frame part along the line III-III in Figure 2;

Fig. 4

schematically the longitudinal frame in the collapsed state with an individual container arranged thereon; and

Fig. 5

schematically the longitudinal frame in the exploded state with two containers arranged one behind the other.

The semi-trailer shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a longitudinal frame 2 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, consists of a single spar running in the direction of travel. The longitudinal frame 2 can, however, also consist of a plurality of spars arranged parallel to one another, which are connected by transverse frame struts to form a structural unit. The longitudinal frame 2 is composed - viewed in the direction of travel - of a front, a middle and a rear longitudinal frame part 4, 6 and 8. The central longitudinal frame part 6 consists of a hollow longitudinal spar, in the front open end 6a of which the front longitudinal frame part with its rear section 4b and in the rear open end 6b of which the rear longitudinal frame part 8 with its front section 8a is inserted (cf. in particular FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The The cavity of the central longitudinal frame part 6 is rectangular in cross section. The rear section 4b of the front longitudinal frame part 4 and the front section 8a of the rear longitudinal frame part 8 are rod-shaped and also rectangular in cross section, the cavity of the central longitudinal frame part 6 and the rod-shaped sections 4b and 8a of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8 correspond approximately in their cross-sectional dimensions. In this way, the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8 are slidably mounted in the central longitudinal frame part 6 and can be pulled out telescopically in the direction of travel (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Due to the rectangular cross section of the cavity of the central longitudinal frame part 6 and the rod-shaped sections 4b and 8a of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8, the three longitudinal frame parts 4, 6 and 8 are prevented from rotating relative to one another about their longitudinal axis.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, five holding elements 10 to 18 are arranged on the longitudinal frame 2, the first holding element 10 at the front end 4a of the front longitudinal frame part 4, the second holding element 12 at the front end 6a of the central longitudinal frame part 6 and also a third and a fourth holding element 14 and 16 are seated on the central longitudinal frame part 4 in the direction of travel behind the second holding element 12 and the fifth holding element 18 is seated on the rear end 8b of the rear longitudinal frame part 8. Each holding element consists of a cross member 20, at the ends of which a fixing element 21 is attached. The cross member and the fixing elements have been identified with the corresponding reference numerals on the first holding element 10 only in FIG. 1. The width of the cross member 20 corresponds to the width of the container to be placed. With the fixing elements 21, the containers are fixed at their ends on the semi-trailer.

On the underside of the front longitudinal frame part 4, a coupling element 22 is provided for coupling to a semi-trailer. Furthermore, a folding support 24 is arranged on the front longitudinal frame part, which is pivotably supported on the front longitudinal frame part 4 with a folding axis 26 extending transversely to the longitudinal frame and thus to the direction of travel. At both ends of the folding axis 26 support legs 28 are attached at right angles, which are provided with a foot 30 at their lower end. The folding support 24 serves to support the semi-trailer in its front area when it is uncoupled from the towing vehicle. This case is shown in Figure 2, which shows the folding support 24 in its support position. In contrast, the folding support 24 is pivoted upwards about its folding axis 26 during driving and is locked in the folded, approximately horizontal non-use position by locking means, not shown.

On the central longitudinal frame part 6, three impeller axles 34 are attached, which carry impellers 32, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, a locking device 36 is provided in the region of the front end 6a on the central longitudinal frame part 6, which is used for locking of the two front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8 which are displaceably guided in the central longitudinal frame part 6.

FIG. 3 shows a section of a longitudinal section through the central region of the central longitudinal frame part 6. As already mentioned, the front longitudinal frame part 4 with its rear rod-shaped section 4b and the rear longitudinal frame part 8 with its front rod-shaped section 8a are inserted into the central longitudinal frame part 6 and can be displaced therein guided. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the ends 44 and 48 of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8 overlap one another within the central longitudinal frame part 6. The mutually overlapping ends 44 and 48 each have a row of teeth 46 and 46 on their mutually facing sides 50. Both mutually overlapping ends 44 and 48 of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8 are, via their tooth rows 46, 50, in engagement with a gear wheel 52 arranged between them. The gear wheel 52 is rotatable with its shaft 54 on the central longitudinal frame part 6 stored. In this way, a mechanical coupling between the first and the third longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8 is formed such that the third longitudinal frame part 8 is driven by the first longitudinal frame part 4 and can only be displaced in the opposite direction relative to the latter. If the front longitudinal frame part 4 is moved, the gear wheel 52 is rotated, as a result of which the rear longitudinal frame part 8 is driven in the opposite direction and is thus displaced in the opposite direction to the front longitudinal frame part 4. So the opposite ends 44 and 48 of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 6 cannot come out of engagement, a projecting stop 56 and 58 is provided at the end of the rows of teeth 46 and 50, which in the extended position of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8 bumps against the gear 52.

In the illustrated embodiment, both rows of teeth 46 and 50 are of equal length. Furthermore, the distance of the gear wheel 52 from the two stops 56 and 58 is the same in every displacement position of the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8. It is thereby achieved that the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8 can each be displaced by the same displacement path.

The semi-trailer is used for the optional transport of different containers, the semi-trailer shown in the figures being provided in particular for the optional transport of a single 20- or 40-foot container or two 20-foot containers to be arranged one behind the other. FIG. 4 schematically shows the semi-trailer with a 20-foot container 60 in a single transport position, while FIG. 5 shows two 20-foot containers 64 and 68 arranged one behind the other on the semi-trailer.

When a single container 60 is supported, the longitudinal frame 2 is pushed together to its lower length dimension L 1, as can be seen from FIG. The second and fifth holding elements 12 and 18 serve to support the individually resting container 60 at the end. The front end 61 of the Containers 60 fixed by the second holding element 12 and the rear end 62 of the container 60 by the fifth holding element 18. Although the container 60 also rests on the third and fourth holding elements 14 and 16, these holding elements 14 and 16 do not serve to fix the container 60 in the individual transport position. The first holding element 10 also remains unused. Because of the end support of the container 60, the distance between the second and fifth holding elements 12 and 18 corresponds to one another the length C of the container 60 when the longitudinal frame is pushed together to its lower length dimension L 1. As can be seen from FIG. 4, in the individual transport position the container 60 rests only on the central longitudinal frame part 6 and on the still exposed section of the rear longitudinal frame part 8. In contrast, the exposed section of the front longitudinal frame part 4 remains free. Thus, the length L₁ of the longitudinal frame in the collapsed state is greater than the length C of the container 60th

As Figure 5 shows, the longitudinal frame 2 is extendable to a length L₂. In the extended state, in the illustrated embodiment, the length L₂ of the longitudinal frame is equal to the total length 2C of the two containers 64 and 68 lying one behind the other. In the exemplary embodiment described, the front and rear longitudinal frame parts 4 and 8 are each extendable by the same length of displacement A. $$\text{L₂ = L₁ + 2A.}$$

In the fully extended position according to FIG. 5, the first, third, fourth and fifth holding elements 10, 14, 16 and 18 serve to support the end of the containers 64 and 68, while the second holding element 12 remains unused. The first holding element 10 fixes the front end 65 of the front container 64, the third holding element the rear end 66 of the front container 64, the fourth holding element 16 the front end 67 of the front container 68 and the fifth holding element 18 the rear end 69 of the rear Containers 68.

So that in the embodiment shown, both for the single transport position and for the sequential arrangement of two containers, only containers of the same length, e.g. B. 20-foot container, can be fixed on the semi-trailer, the distance between the second and fourth holding members 12 and 16 is as large as half the difference between the two length dimensions L₁, L₂ or as the maximum displacement A of the front or of the rear longitudinal frame part 4 or 8, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Claims (8)

1. A semitrailer for containers, having a longitudinal frame (2) which
      may be extended from a first length (L₁) to a second length (L₂) for loading containers (60; 64, 68) differing in length and number, and has a front part (4) of the longitudinal frame which may be coupled to a semitrailer tractor, a middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame which is arranged behind the front part (4) of the longitudinal frame in the direction of travel and upon which the latter is guided so that it may be shifted and locked and also the running wheels (32) are arranged, and a rear part (8) of the longitudinal frame which is arranged behind the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame and is likewise guided on the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame so that it may be shifted in the direction of travel and locked, the parts (4, 6, 8) of the longitudinal frame exhibiting retainer members (10 to 18) for supporting and locking the containers (60; 64, 68) at the ends, characterized in that the front and rear parts (4, 8) of the longitudinal frame are coupled together mechanically in such a way that they can only shift in opposite directions to one another with respect to the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame, and the rear part (8) of the longitudinal frame may be driven from the front part (4) of the longitudinal frame.
2. A semitrailer as in Claim 1, characterized in that
      the front and the rear part (4, 8) of the longitudinal frame are able to shift respectively by the same distance lengthwise with respect to the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame.
3. A semitrailer as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
      the front part (4) and rear part (8) of the longitudinal frame overlap one another on the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame and exhibit on their sides (44, 48) next one another rows of teeth (46, 50) which engage mutually with a gearwheel lying between them (46, 50) and supported on the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame.
4. A semitrailer as in one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
      the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame exhibits at least one hollow longitudinal spar and the front part (4) and rear part (8) of the longitudinal frame exhibit respectively a portion (44, 48) in the form of a rod by which it is pushed into the front or rear open end (6a, 6b) as the case may be of the longitudinal spar of the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame, and may be pulled out again telescopically.
5. A semitrailer as in Claim 4, characterized in that
      the cavity in the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame and the rodlike portions (44, 48) of the front part (4) and rear part (8) of the longitudinal frame are rectangular in cross-section.
6. A semitrailer as in one of the Claims 1 to 5,
      for loading at option with one single container (60) when the longitudinal frame (2) is set to the first length (L₁) or with two containers (64, 68) lying one behind the other when the longitudinal frame (2) is extended to the second length (L₂), characterized in that at the front end (4a) of the front part (4) of the longitudinal frame a first retainer member (10) is provided, on the middle part (6) of the longitudinal frame in the front region (6a) a second retainer member (12) is provided and behind it in the direction of travel a third retainer member (14) and a fourth (16), and also at the rear end (8b) of the rear part (8) of the longitudinal frame a fifth retainer member (18) is provided, so that in the arrangement of one single container (60) the second retainer member (12) holds the front end (61) and the fifth retainer member (18) the rear end (62) of the container (60), and in the arrangement of two containers (64, 68) one behind the other the first retainer member (10) fixes the front end (64) and the third retainer member (14) the rear end (66) of the front container (64) and the fourth retainer member (16) fixes the front end (67) and the fifth retainer member (18) the rear end (69) of the rear container (68).
7. A semitrailer as in Claim 4, characterized in that
      the distance (A) between the second retainer member (12) and the fourth (16) is half of half the difference (L₂ - L₁) between the two lengths (L₁, L₂) of the longitudinal frame (2), and that the distance (C) between the first retainer member (10) and the third (14) is equal to the distance between the fourth retainer member (16) and the fifth (18) when the longitudinal frame (2) is extended to the second length (L₂).
8. A semitrailer as in one of the Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that
      the retainer members (10 to 18) consist of crossbeams (20) arranged on the longitudinal frame (2) and provided with fixer members (21) at their two ends.

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